Structural classification of galaxies in clusters

Details Structural classification of galaxies in clusters Structural classification of galaxies in clusters

1996-10-29

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9610235v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

10 pages with 1 figure and 7 tables, A&A Tex macro, A&A in press

Scientific paper

The traditional method of morphological classification, by visual inspection of images of uniform quality and by reference to standards for each type, is critically examined. The rate of agreement among traditional morphologists on the morphological type of galaxies is estimated from published classification works, and is estimated at about 20 %, when galaxies are classified into three bins (E, S0, S+Irr). The advantages of the quantitative method of structural classification for classifying galaxies in clusters are outlined. This method is based on the isophotal analysis of galaxy images, and on the examination of quantitative structural parameters derived from this analysis, such as the profiles of luminosity, ellipticity and deviations from ellipticity of the galaxy. The structural and traditional methods are compared on a complete sample of 190 galaxies in the Coma cluster. The morphological types derived by both methods agree to within 15 or 20 %, the same rate as among traditional morphologists alone, thus showing that our morphological classes do coincide with the traditional ones. The galaxies with discrepant types are mostly faint (mag_B > 16.0), or have features typical of spirals, but which have not been detected, noticed or taken into account by traditional morphologists. The rate of agreement is also good for galaxies in a distant cluster (z ~0.4). The structural method, gives highly reproducible results, never reached by traditional estimations of the morphological type. Thus, the morphological types obtained with this method should be preferred. The advantages of the method are further demonstrated by new results on the properties of galaxies in clusters.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Structural classification of galaxies in clusters does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Structural classification of galaxies in clusters, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Structural classification of galaxies in clusters will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-575318